POLITICS: EU Leaders Consider Bigger Role in Iraq, page 1

Following the U.S. elections, European Union (EU) leaders are considering taking on a bigger role in the rebuilding of Iraq. They also are discussing closer ties to President Bush as well. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was quoted as saying "The world has many problems, problems that without any doubt can be solved better if the cooperation between the Europeans and the Americans is as close as possible,"

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BRUSSELS, Belgium - European Union leaders on Thursday considered taking on a bigger role in rebuilding Iraq and forging stronger ties with re-elected President Bush.

At the opening of a two-day summit, incoming European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he put together a new executive team, signaling the prospect of an early end to problems surrounding his original lineup.

In a key change, Barroso said Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini would be the next justice commissioner, instead of conservative Italian Rocco Buttiglione, who upset many European Parliament members with anti-gay comments in confirmation hearings in October.

The EU leaders met after Bush won a second term and considered ways to get Washington to work more closely with Europe in finding a solution in Iraq.

"The world has many problems, problems that without any doubt can be solved better if the cooperation between the Europeans and the Americans is as close as possible," said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

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The body looked at a variety of proposals to more involve their role in Iraq, but stopped short of committing troops. That move would be opposed by France and Germany. Ayad Allawi, Iraq's interim Prime Minister, will lunch with the EU leaders tomorrow. It is expected that a trade deal between Iraq and the EU may be offered.